I have been working on practicing abundance for the past few years. Realizing that not absolutely everything I have ever wanted needs to get done right away and I don’t need to be constantly working towards some specific goal to be happy. I think I used to think this way, and it led to a bit of anxiety more than it did enjoyment.
When I really stop, and view my time with abundance, I feel grateful and allow myself to enjoy where I am at in this life. I release my worries and desires to the world and let the universe guide me to what is right for me at the time.
I just finished a semester of schooling and am finding myself with much more free time. I am working and enjoying my free time. Sometimes I feel like I want something to do, like I miss the hustle and bustle, but I know that is just me adjusting, and I am truly grateful for this time to rest and relax. I know things will pick up again when I can handle it, and for now I will fully enjoy where I am at and bask in it.
I guess I am a restless soul and love to be adventurous (thinking of the abundance) . When I lost my job for nearly a year I kept myself very busy with exploring new career classes, volunteer work and doing fun things that cost nothing. I met new friends and even travelled to Key West Florida for a week on an invite. My friend knowing full well I was unemployed. Life is short and I learned this at a very young age of 40 when my Mother died of cancer. I am still the same restless soul that continues wanting to live life to the fullest but for now I am still working FT and dreaming of my next adventures!
I run on an ambulance so between those calls and the hospice patients I have given this thought recently. When we have hospice patients I often think when we pull them out of the squad ( speaking of the ones that are awake ) has it registered that this will be their last moments outside….. Things like that. Then the other people worse off than myself. Just makes me always try to be humble and remember like today …. This is the only May 1st 2024 any of us will ever have in our lives literally. So I try to remain positive and grateful despite what’s around me.
Chanel, I love Richard Rohr. My husband and I attended 4 or 5 of his Conspire conferences in Albuquerque. We are currently doing a course based on his book “immortal Diamond.”
I Read today’s question early this morning, and had trouble making any sense of it. Came back now, feel somewhat the same way, but here goes!
This question makes no sense to me. I know what it’s asking, but really? When I view the time available to me, I don’t think of it with a sense of abundance, I think (as most people likely do) and ask myself, how much time do I have to get the things I want to get done, done. For better or worse, we humans are hard-wired to a baked-in awareness of time, and all of what that means, each and every day. Of course I frequently think how abundant with many things my personal life is, but it does not hinge on time in any way.
I fully understand your reaction, Kevin. This may be one of those instances where, as Richard Rohr advises, we have to be able to hold the duality.. Or, as Albert Einstein put it (paraphrase) a minute on a hot stove is very different from a minute kissing one’s loved one. And, thank you for your honesty. It is one of those things that I love best about this forum; no one has the need to pretend or posture.
You know, Dolores, I came back to yesterday’s May 1 question and read many of other people’s responses, (including yours), and enjoyed their varied approaches to the question. I think I got more value out of yesterday’s question because I had to struggle with it myself! Have an abundant day my friend!
Joy, a sense of choice available to be in the moment, a cornucopia of possibilities, in the same time, time becomes just this moment without dimension, but freedom and space arises! Thank you for this question.
This morning when I woke up I thought, “I’d really like to just stay in bed all day!” and knew I couldn’t. Too many obligations, too many meetings, deadlines, projects. I’m not going back to bed after reading this, but it has me looking at my calendar and working out when I could do that. With time in abundance I can give myself the luxury of a day in bed reading and napping instead of thinking I have to get all my household chores done because time is passing. The one thing that really doesn’t wait is gardening but even with that I don’t have to do everything in one day.
Barb, you make me laugh (at myself). All the years I worked the equivalent of two jobs plus volunteer work and political activities in addition to a social and church life and household chores etc. I promised myself that day in bed. Well, I will be 90 in about a week, and it still hasn’t happened. Sleeping late sure. A chore-free day. sometimes. But a full day in bed not yet. We who are driven probably always will be, although I have mellowed out in old age.
I lived that packed-to-the-brim life for a long time. I don’t regret a minute of it and it got me where I am now, in a position to pay attention and appreciate more than I did in the midst of the hurly-burly.
I read a poem this morning, the day after this was the question, that relates to my mood yesterday when I answered.
Raymond Carver
“Rain”
Woke up this morning with
a terrific urge to lie in bed all day
and read. Fought against it for a minute.
Then looked out the window at the rain.
And gave over. Put myself entirely
in the keep of this rainy morning.
Nor do I regret a minute of it. In fact, I regret almost none of what I have done. My regrets, are there aren’t a lot, tend to center around what I failed to do.
Thank you so much for the poem I love it.
When I view the time available to me with a sense of abundance, the need to slow down arises, to stop and smell the roses as they say. Or, the expression, “The time is NOW.” I realize that I need to bury my monkey-minded head in my heart and know that when I do so, I will view the time available to me as a gift not a time-clock that demands me to perform. Author and spirituality teacher Martha Williamson says that ”…from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Today’s question challenges me to ask: What am I saying to myself today?
Beautifully said, Charlie. You took today’s question in a whole new direction than I had. And while I’m at peace with what I wrote, I like your’s a whole lot more. Thank you.
Time available to me creates a sense of space, a sense of freedom, to just be without rushing. I’ve been out of work for 5 months and have an abundance of time currently. I am deeply grateful for this gift of free time after 30 years of working life. I have not developed any new hobbies or interests, I’ve just woken up to each day with no professional obligations and am enjoying it. I pray that my next job is around the corner and I am doing my best to find it, but in the meantime I am grateful for this free time.
This question evoked a myriad of thoughts. My first “time” thought was my physical length on this earth. Then I came to the present and as this day will unfold I have time to be on this site, eat nourishing foods, read, experience the warmth of the sun, interact with family and friends, rest and plan. In that abundance, gratefulness arises.
When I view the time available to me with a sense of abundance, a variety of meaningful challenges arise. Currently, my life revolves around my studies. If I could feel that I still have plenty of time to work on my classwork, I would experience less frustration when I encounter obstacles. This helps me see opportunities within each problem I’m solving.
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I have been working on practicing abundance for the past few years. Realizing that not absolutely everything I have ever wanted needs to get done right away and I don’t need to be constantly working towards some specific goal to be happy. I think I used to think this way, and it led to a bit of anxiety more than it did enjoyment.
When I really stop, and view my time with abundance, I feel grateful and allow myself to enjoy where I am at in this life. I release my worries and desires to the world and let the universe guide me to what is right for me at the time.
I just finished a semester of schooling and am finding myself with much more free time. I am working and enjoying my free time. Sometimes I feel like I want something to do, like I miss the hustle and bustle, but I know that is just me adjusting, and I am truly grateful for this time to rest and relax. I know things will pick up again when I can handle it, and for now I will fully enjoy where I am at and bask in it.
I guess I am a restless soul and love to be adventurous (thinking of the abundance) . When I lost my job for nearly a year I kept myself very busy with exploring new career classes, volunteer work and doing fun things that cost nothing. I met new friends and even travelled to Key West Florida for a week on an invite. My friend knowing full well I was unemployed. Life is short and I learned this at a very young age of 40 when my Mother died of cancer. I am still the same restless soul that continues wanting to live life to the fullest but for now I am still working FT and dreaming of my next adventures!
I run on an ambulance so between those calls and the hospice patients I have given this thought recently. When we have hospice patients I often think when we pull them out of the squad ( speaking of the ones that are awake ) has it registered that this will be their last moments outside….. Things like that. Then the other people worse off than myself. Just makes me always try to be humble and remember like today …. This is the only May 1st 2024 any of us will ever have in our lives literally. So I try to remain positive and grateful despite what’s around me.
Thank you, Stanley, for this sobering reflection. And blessings on your work, too.
It’s the difference between “I only have six months to live: and “Wow, I have been granted six more months of life.”
When I see time with abundance I see me cherishing each moment and each new moment as a new opportunity for a new experience.
I also came across this on the Daily Meditations on CAC:
“Time is not money, despite the common aphorism. Time is life itself!”
https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-joy-of-simplicity/
Chanel, I love Richard Rohr. My husband and I attended 4 or 5 of his Conspire conferences in Albuquerque. We are currently doing a course based on his book “immortal Diamond.”
I Read today’s question early this morning, and had trouble making any sense of it. Came back now, feel somewhat the same way, but here goes!
This question makes no sense to me. I know what it’s asking, but really? When I view the time available to me, I don’t think of it with a sense of abundance, I think (as most people likely do) and ask myself, how much time do I have to get the things I want to get done, done. For better or worse, we humans are hard-wired to a baked-in awareness of time, and all of what that means, each and every day. Of course I frequently think how abundant with many things my personal life is, but it does not hinge on time in any way.
Your comment makes me think of the book Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman, which I read recently.
I fully understand your reaction, Kevin. This may be one of those instances where, as Richard Rohr advises, we have to be able to hold the duality.. Or, as Albert Einstein put it (paraphrase) a minute on a hot stove is very different from a minute kissing one’s loved one. And, thank you for your honesty. It is one of those things that I love best about this forum; no one has the need to pretend or posture.
You know, Dolores, I came back to yesterday’s May 1 question and read many of other people’s responses, (including yours), and enjoyed their varied approaches to the question. I think I got more value out of yesterday’s question because I had to struggle with it myself! Have an abundant day my friend!
Thank you, Dolores, for your response and perspective. It helps me greatly!
Joy, a sense of choice available to be in the moment, a cornucopia of possibilities, in the same time, time becomes just this moment without dimension, but freedom and space arises! Thank you for this question.
I join my hands in thanks for the many wonders of life; for having twenty-four brand-new hours before me.
— THICH NHAT HANH
I always tell myself, “Tomorrow is another day.”
Another chance to start over. Another chance to start anew.
Another chance to better than the last.
This morning when I woke up I thought, “I’d really like to just stay in bed all day!” and knew I couldn’t. Too many obligations, too many meetings, deadlines, projects. I’m not going back to bed after reading this, but it has me looking at my calendar and working out when I could do that. With time in abundance I can give myself the luxury of a day in bed reading and napping instead of thinking I have to get all my household chores done because time is passing. The one thing that really doesn’t wait is gardening but even with that I don’t have to do everything in one day.
Barb, you make me laugh (at myself). All the years I worked the equivalent of two jobs plus volunteer work and political activities in addition to a social and church life and household chores etc. I promised myself that day in bed. Well, I will be 90 in about a week, and it still hasn’t happened. Sleeping late sure. A chore-free day. sometimes. But a full day in bed not yet. We who are driven probably always will be, although I have mellowed out in old age.
we who a
I lived that packed-to-the-brim life for a long time. I don’t regret a minute of it and it got me where I am now, in a position to pay attention and appreciate more than I did in the midst of the hurly-burly.
I read a poem this morning, the day after this was the question, that relates to my mood yesterday when I answered.
Raymond Carver
“Rain”
Woke up this morning with
a terrific urge to lie in bed all day
and read. Fought against it for a minute.
Then looked out the window at the rain.
And gave over. Put myself entirely
in the keep of this rainy morning.
Would I live my life over again?
Make the same unforgivable mistakes?
Yes, given half a chance. Yes.
https://www.ayearofbeinghere.com/2015/05/raymond-carver-rain.html
Nor do I regret a minute of it. In fact, I regret almost none of what I have done. My regrets, are there aren’t a lot, tend to center around what I failed to do.
Thank you so much for the poem I love it.
When I view the time available to me with a sense of abundance, the need to slow down arises, to stop and smell the roses as they say. Or, the expression, “The time is NOW.” I realize that I need to bury my monkey-minded head in my heart and know that when I do so, I will view the time available to me as a gift not a time-clock that demands me to perform. Author and spirituality teacher Martha Williamson says that ”…from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Today’s question challenges me to ask: What am I saying to myself today?
My gaze is on the path directly in
front of me. The next step. The next
breath. With gratitude for this
moment.
Beautifully said, Charlie. You took today’s question in a whole new direction than I had. And while I’m at peace with what I wrote, I like your’s a whole lot more. Thank you.
Time available to me creates a sense of space, a sense of freedom, to just be without rushing. I’ve been out of work for 5 months and have an abundance of time currently. I am deeply grateful for this gift of free time after 30 years of working life. I have not developed any new hobbies or interests, I’ve just woken up to each day with no professional obligations and am enjoying it. I pray that my next job is around the corner and I am doing my best to find it, but in the meantime I am grateful for this free time.
This question evoked a myriad of thoughts. My first “time” thought was my physical length on this earth. Then I came to the present and as this day will unfold I have time to be on this site, eat nourishing foods, read, experience the warmth of the sun, interact with family and friends, rest and plan. In that abundance, gratefulness arises.
When I view the time available to me with a sense of abundance, a variety of meaningful challenges arise. Currently, my life revolves around my studies. If I could feel that I still have plenty of time to work on my classwork, I would experience less frustration when I encounter obstacles. This helps me see opportunities within each problem I’m solving.
My Ngoc, an abundance of time will create a clearer mind. We often come up with surprising solutions we never thought of in the heat of the moment.